Don't Miss Running Poles

I was lucky enough to have the day off today, and as I write this, the Tigers are up a run in the 9th against the Mets.  So far Victor Martinez accounts for all the Tigers scoring and hasn't gotten a hit yet.  But watching a base hit to center field reminded me of something that I have fondly forgotten.  In spring training, during games, pitchers often get their conditioning in on the field during the game.  A pitcher who has finished his 2 or 3 innings for the day, or a starter that isn't going to throw that day often get in their work during the game.  And one of those conditioning activities is called running poles.  I have run many many poles in my life, though luckily not in the last decade or so.  Poles can be done multiple ways.  But when I played at Michigan we did it two ways.  If we were on a "distance" day, we basically ran around the warning track from foul pole to foul pole for 21 minutes.  Run hard from the right field foul pole along the warning track to the other foul pole, then turn around and run back.  Back and forth, back and forth.  On "sprint" days we switched it up.  Jog from the right field foul pole along the warning track until we reach the 375 sign in the right field power alley  then sprint along the warning track to the left field foul pole.  When the first guy starts sprinting the next guy began the jog out.  Then once the last guy reaches the left field foul pole the first guys starts heading back the other direction and we do it all over again.  Usually there were 5 or 6 guys in a group.  Soooo much fun let me tell you.  But I guess it wasn't as bad as doing a Tour De Stade at the Big House.  We did that on many occasions too.  Now my legs hurt.  I'm going to lie down.